For the C64, there is the "C64 Dead Test" cartridge (https://www.thefuturewas8bit.com/shop/c ... dtest.html).
For the C16 family, the C264 (https://www.thefuturewas8bit.com/shop/c ... g-264.html, with detailed implementation details: https://web.archive.org/web/20180925161 ... iag264.htm).
For the VIC-20, http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/201 ... -kits.html.
And I know that there are many others for Atari 8 bit machines, and likely many other systems.
The feature set of these cartridges is usually the following:
- capable of replacing the original boot sequence with their own (to work around potential RAM issues which the original boot sequence could use)
- RAM tests
- CPU model test (tests all known opcodes and verifies CPU model when possible)
- video and audio tests
- keyboard test (reads/verifies) user inputs
- joystick tests
- possibly tape tests by having the diagnostic cartridge also plug into the tape port and generate appropriate signals.
So I am now wondering:
- Does anyone know of existing old or modern diagnostic cartridges for the Oric line of computers?
- Could some of the modern boards in development be somewhat repurposed with this feature in mind?